Fourteen college quidditch teams take part in annual tournament October 26

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Middlebury College will host the second annual intercollegiate quidditch tournament on Sunday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Battell Beach, the open field behind Battell Hall on College Street (Route 125). Student organizers are expecting at least 14 other colleges to participate in the event.

"This is really the first big intercollegiate event ever," said Alex Benepe, the quidditch club commissioner who organized the event. "Last year we hosted Vassar, which was great, but we're looking forward to a much bigger event this year."

Colleges participating in this year's tournament of the earth-bound version of the famous Harry Potter sport include Princeton, Vassar, University of Rochester, Louisiana State University, University of Washington, McGill University, Amherst College, University of Massachusetts, Boston University, Chestnut Hill College, Carlow University, Emerson College, and Green Mountain College.

The tournament is free and open to the public, and will include performances by several Middlebury bands, The Flying Fists (a student fire-juggling club), exploding potions by a Middlebury chemistry professor, sports announcers, a fully equipped field with bleachers and tents, and local food vendors.

"Muggle Quidditch," as it has come to be known, was founded in 2005 by Middlebury student Alexander Manshel. It has since become a national phenomenon with more than 160 colleges and universities now registered with the Intercollegiate Quidditch Association. The sport is equal parts athleticism, theatre and comedy.